419 scam: "ENG. RICHARD EZE"<support@hi-tech.cc> FROM THE DESK OF ENG RICHARD EZE.

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +2348037429014 (Nigeria, prepaid mobile phone)
This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- r.eze@sify.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: "ENG. RICHARD EZE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <r.eze@sify.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2010 02:10:11 +0900
Subject: FROM THE DESK OF ENG RICHARD EZE.

FROM THE DESK OF ENG RICHARD EZE
NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION
ABUJA, NIGERIA.
EMAIL r.eze@sify.com
TELEPHONE +2348037429014

RE-CALIBRATION, LAYING AND TESTING OF ON/OFFSHORE GAS PIPELINES NLG PLANT IN YENEGOA, BAYELSA TO KADUNA, KADUNA STATE.

I have the honour to write you as an employee of Directorate of Petroleum Resources a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and also the Secretary of the Tender Board, in respect of the above contract. I have been sourcing for a good, trusted and honorable person whom I would partner with until I got your contact from my personal research .

In August 2006, the above contract was awarded to a South Korean company through my effort on the promise that I will receive 10% kickback on completion of the contract. The total amount involved on this contract was US$20 million. The contract was to lay gas pipelines from Natural Liquefied Gas Plant in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State in the South-south region of Niger Delta area to Kabala Doki in Kaduna State, North-central area of Nigeria. The length covers 1050 Kilometers. The contract has long been completed, tested and commissioned. The Federal Government, leaving unpaid the sum of US$4.750m representing the 10% kickback agreed with the Korean company, has paid the total sum of US$15,250,000.

My problem is that I cannot just collect this sum of money without the assistance of a foreign partner who will stand as the subsidiary of the Korean company and receive this sum of US$4.750 million in his account. This is not illegal. We will present all papers accordingly and receive official approvals in respect thereof.

If we commence immediately, it will take 21 working days to get all the papers filed and approval received and the fund transferred to your nominated account overseas. I will personally supervise the project. On receiving the money in your account, you will be entitled to 40% thereof. And from thence, your company will be introduced to the Federal Government of Nigeria for future contract in the oil and gas industry.

Upon your confirmation that the fund has been transferred to your account, I will meet with you to disburse accordingly and my share could as well be managed by you. To enable us proceed, I will give you the text you will enter into your letter headed paper and invoice and send to me via email attachment which I will submit and from there we proceed. Until I read from you.

I remain yours,
ENG. RICHARD EZE
Tel: +2348037429014 EMAIL r.eze@sify.com

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam